Fifth Nature Preserve Handed to Private Sector

A 23,000-hectare area in Semnan Province was officially designated as a private nature preserve on Tuesday by the Department of Environment to become the fifth of its kind in the country.

In line with the major policy of DOE for increasing public involvement in wildlife protection, the department issued a five-year private management license for a local livestock breeder, ILNA reported.

"The private preserve located in Mehdishahr County is the first one in northern Iran. Unlike the other four private preserves in Kerman and Yazd provinces, which are under the control of DOE, the newly opened Jashlobar Preserve is managed by a local resident," the director of DOE's Hunting and Fishing Office said.

Pointing to biodiversity in northern Iran compared to central and southern areas, Ali Teymouri added that experts from the provincial DOE and environmentalists carried out a comprehensive survey, preparing a statistical report on the number of wild species.

"This could help monitor and control hunting activities in the area," he said.

According to Teymouri, DOE is seeking investors to establish more such preserves in other provinces.

Over 20 potential areas in Kerman, Fars, Mazandaran, South Khorasan, Markazi, Hormozgan and Yazd provinces have been targeted so far and areas in these provinces meeting the required standards will be suggested to the High Council for Environmental Protection for getting the legal designation.

"If the targeted areas overlap with those already having a DOE protected status (national park, natural monument, wildlife sanctuary and protected area), they will be designated as a private preserve to enjoy the facilities provided by the private sector," he added.

Teymouri said the policy will help create jobs for local residents, enhance the region's economic development, encourage the public to respect the regions' flora and fauna, and involve them in promoting environment protection.